Says Gov. John Kasich implied that a portion of workers’ compensation rebates to employers "should be directed back to him in the form of campaign cash."Ohio Rep. Tom Letson
Ohio Gov. John Kasich made news last month when he proposed returning $1 billion in insurance premiums to more than 200,000 public and private employers.

The rebates, later approved by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation board, could be worth up to millions of dollars and are possible thanks to an unexpected surplus in bureau funds.

A couple of weeks later, the Republican Kasich noted the accomplishment among others in an email sent to his campaign’s listserv. The email drew the ire of State Rep. Tom Letson.

A statement sent by Letson’s office called Kasich campaign’s email as a "fundraising pitch to cash in" on the rebates. Letson asserted that Kasich was "raising money from an injured workers’ fund" and that the governor has "directly tied BWC rebates to" political donations.

"It is as if the Governor is implying that a portion of the rebate should be directed back to him in the form of campaign cash," said Letson, a four-term Democrat from Warren.

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